Archaeologists uncover 3700-year-old 'magical' birth brick in Egypt

University of Pennsylvania via Eurek Alert! ^ | Pam Kosty

[vannrox]

Always a surprise! A Birth Brick?

[parsifal]

Maybe birth bricks help lay a good foundation for the child's health? Bump. parsy.

[Mushinronshasan]

Always a surprise! A Birth Brick?

Hmm, I didn't know they were birthed. I've always heard they arrived via a different orifice.

[farmfriend]

ping

[mvpel]

The Egyptians likened the birth of a child to the rising of the sun at daybreak.

Wow, that's pretty poetic for as death-obsessed as ancient Egyptian culture was.

[College Repub]

Modern day egypt isn't much better!

[Cachelot]

I've always heard they arrived via a different orifice.

And then hit on the head with a magical brick, the hitter uttering the words "A Palfrey for a [big/small boy/girl/crocodile]".

[blam]

Thanks for the ping (Bump)

[Consort]

al Wadi al Jadid

Abydos is not in southern Egypt It is part of one of these Governorates. (I think.)

Sawhaj

[kjenerette]

The Egyptians likened the birth of a child to the rising of the sun at daybreak.

Wow, that's pretty poetic for as death-obsessed as ancient Egyptian culture was.

...and they likened death to the setting sun - the phrase 'gone to the west' shows up frequently in Egyptian death books.

[cubreporter]

After reading about it maybe the women themselves buried it! :)))

[solzhenitsyn]

I've been to Abydos (Sohag Governate). It's near the center of the country, but I'm sure that would be considered Upper, or Southern Egypt, as it's well south of most of the population.

[martin_fierro]

[tet68]

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[TommyDale]

Actually, on closer examination, the brick was found to have been emitted by a Pharoah upon learning that his army drowned while chasing Moses.

[Cvengr]

Anybody know the etymology of the name?

[RightOnline]

"The upper surface of the birth brick discovered at Abydos, unlike the bottom and sides, is crumbled away. "It is quite possible," Dr Wegner notes, "that the damage to the top of the brick --and another like it that has not been preserved-- was caused by its use to support a woman's feet in childbirth for a long period of time and during multiple deliveries." "

Ummm..............and I suppose the fact that it's 3700-freakin'-years-old has nothing to do with it.

[solzhenitsyn]

"Anybody know the etymology of the name?"

I don't know the meaning of "Abydos", but you can bet your life it's Greek. I'll see if I can find it.

[belleoftheball414]

Call in the next 10 minutes, and we'll also include a FREE video on how to use the Birth Brick. And, as a special gift, we'll through in an idol of the goddess Hathor absolutely FREE! Only 2 easy payments of $19.95!